Dear Rodney, I really enjoyed transcribing your post. You seem like a thoughtful guy. A woman myself, I appreciate when a man can notice and admire someone strong and feminine like Michelle. Thanks for taking the time to write and submit to Between the Bars. I hope you find your Michelle!
Doug - your open, honest communication INTRIGUES me. Something tells me you WILL make parole in 2014. Please continue to use your communication skills to your advantage.
I'm going to snail mail you a letter. In the interim, take care and know that you're not alone. People truly do care about inmates are upfront, honest and capable of change.
Hey Ronnie its john Damn you can draw good i like your art work i hope you have ok holidays try to hang in there i will write you some more i got your card you mailed me it was real nice i got it on my wall talk to you latter
I find that everything you write in you're blog posts are always so honest and it's wonderful. I think it's great that you admit to the 'silly' things in you're past and be wide opened through social networking.
This one post hits me an awful lot. I feel like its relates to someone very close to me, my sister. I believe that every word you said about being there for someone, and just talking to them and basically every thing you said to the very end is exactly right. My older sister, now 21, is a drug addicted. She also started at a very young age when we moved she did start hanging around the wrong people but I believe that is was something to do with a past 'situation' that happened when she was little, it didn't involve family but basically a stranger. I remember when I was 10, being around her and her friends all high as a kite and also being the time I caught my sister, cutting and not really knowing what to do really gave me mixed signals so when i hit highschool i thought thats what i was meant to be doing, doing drugs, drinking constantly but i got my head screwed on pretty fast and realised that wasn't the path i wanted for myself. That was also because of my sister telling me that 'she had made many mistakes and she wont let me become her' All the silly things my sister has done just to get whatever she can get her hands, really did break down my family and still is to a extinict. Although through all the shit she caused my mum, dad and myself. All the fights, no matter what we still stuck by her, my parents still do/did everything they possibly can. Sticking by her, through hard times did get her to sobered up, she got a steady job and life went back to normal. It latest for two years, I don't know what went wrong, I don't really care because I know, no matter what my big sister is still there. And she's still has a good heart. When I do see her or even if I don't I'm still texting/calling her making sure she's alright, making sure she knows I'm here, it's does help. (to anyone reading this comment it really does help if you are in a similar situation) It was easier before, now she's 21 my parents don't have any legal right to help her really, besides very minor things. I can't trust my sister without thinking shes going to steal, or do something just to feed her drug habit. But I know I count on her being their for me, because she always has, just us being their for each other. Although it may sound silly.
Sorry for my extremely long rant, but I'm glad I came across you're post. It did help me, and it may have proven to me that I might be doing the right thing.
Hmmm....Luis...my friend, yes hypocrisy is really a shame but sadly I don't think it is going away. Yes those in power do seem to be able to do whatever they choose. And minorities of any kind generally do fall short of civil rights, heck even basic human rights too...It is a sad state for people who are not white upper-class males...that would include any race not white, gays & lesbians, poor people, women, disabled people, drug addicts, convicted felons, etc....Basically the majority of people fall into the category of being disenfranchised and disarmed...When there are too many politically apathetic people and Democracy falls short...dear friend in the end all we can do sometimes is continue having hope, smiling and loving all those who cross our path...take care of ourselves and leave the rest in God's hands to sort out. Out of all of the people I have helped in this life...myself is sometimes who I forget. Love yourself, stick up for yourself and speak up for what you believe in...don't let the greed, anger and negativity get the best of you. Just put one foot in front of the other day by day, and remember you always make a difference to all people you come in contact with! Happy Holidays to you & your family in this upcoming 2013... :) Jody
I found your blog while on a wandering trail through the internet. (I go on these meandering trips where I have about 10 tabs open and I'm pin-balling around between all of them researching and reading.) I recently finished an article in Rolling Stone about the dangers of solitary confinement, and watched a Nat Geo documentary on the same subject last night. They really got me thinking about the prison system (not exclusive to those in solitary) and how makes me angry, sad, and bewildered how prisoners are treated - it's almost like the qualities that makes one human are being squashed out. So I'm glad that sites like this exist to allow connection and dialogue. I've been reading through your entries and they've been making me laugh and think, so thank you for that!
I would like to write more, and I'll be happy to be an "Internet Fairy" for you! I'll work on a letter and send it off to you soon, as well as send you some envelopes and paper! We'll speak more soon!
RSS
I'm going to snail mail you a letter. In the interim, take care and know that you're not alone. People truly do care about inmates are upfront, honest and capable of change.
SAH
This one post hits me an awful lot. I feel like its relates to someone very close to me, my sister. I believe that every word you said about being there for someone, and just talking to them and basically every thing you said to the very end is exactly right. My older sister, now 21, is a drug addicted. She also started at a very young age when we moved she did start hanging around the wrong people but I believe that is was something to do with a past 'situation' that happened when she was little, it didn't involve family but basically a stranger. I remember when I was 10, being around her and her friends all high as a kite and also being the time I caught my sister, cutting and not really knowing what to do really gave me mixed signals so when i hit highschool i thought thats what i was meant to be doing, doing drugs, drinking constantly but i got my head screwed on pretty fast and realised that wasn't the path i wanted for myself. That was also because of my sister telling me that 'she had made many mistakes and she wont let me become her' All the silly things my sister has done just to get whatever she can get her hands, really did break down my family and still is to a extinict. Although through all the shit she caused my mum, dad and myself. All the fights, no matter what we still stuck by her, my parents still do/did everything they possibly can. Sticking by her, through hard times did get her to sobered up, she got a steady job and life went back to normal. It latest for two years, I don't know what went wrong, I don't really care because I know, no matter what my big sister is still there. And she's still has a good heart. When I do see her or even if I don't I'm still texting/calling her making sure she's alright, making sure she knows I'm here, it's does help. (to anyone reading this comment it really does help if you are in a similar situation) It was easier before, now she's 21 my parents don't have any legal right to help her really, besides very minor things. I can't trust my sister without thinking shes going to steal, or do something just to feed her drug habit. But I know I count on her being their for me, because she always has, just us being their for each other. Although it may sound silly.
Sorry for my extremely long rant, but I'm glad I came across you're post. It did help me, and it may have proven to me that I might be doing the right thing.
thanks dude xx
I found your blog while on a wandering trail through the internet. (I go on these meandering trips where I have about 10 tabs open and I'm pin-balling around between all of them researching and reading.) I recently finished an article in Rolling Stone about the dangers of solitary confinement, and watched a Nat Geo documentary on the same subject last night. They really got me thinking about the prison system (not exclusive to those in solitary) and how makes me angry, sad, and bewildered how prisoners are treated - it's almost like the qualities that makes one human are being squashed out. So I'm glad that sites like this exist to allow connection and dialogue. I've been reading through your entries and they've been making me laugh and think, so thank you for that!
I would like to write more, and I'll be happy to be an "Internet Fairy" for you! I'll work on a letter and send it off to you soon, as well as send you some envelopes and paper! We'll speak more soon!
The Quiet Ghost